Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has leveled serious accusations against Muyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Force. Adeyanju claims that Adejobi is using his position to suppress citizens’ rights, particularly freedom of speech, and is engaging in acts of intimidation against those who criticize the police.
In a video that went viral on social media this week, Adeyanju stated that Adejobi has turned his role as Police PRO into a tool of oppression rather than one of communication and public relations. “Nigerians must be mindful of who Muyiwa Adejobi is. He thinks the Police PRO’s work is about surfing the internet and arresting people who criticise the police,” Adeyanju said.
He further accused Adejobi of targeting individuals who speak out against the police, claiming the police spokesperson believes that his role is to jail critics rather than foster accountability. “He believes the role is about jailing individuals, especially those who call for accountability within the police force,” Adeyanju added in the video.
The allegations from Adeyanju also focused on a specific incident involving a client of his legal firm. According to Adeyanju, the client was arrested after making a social media post about the abduction of the wife of former Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, in Ogun State. The woman was reportedly abducted from her residence in the Arepo area on January 16.
“Our client has been in custody for 10 days on Adejobi’s instruction,” Adeyanju explained. He went on to say that the parents of the detained individual had tried to visit him but were subjected to what he described as “humiliation” by Adejobi. Allegedly, three police officers who facilitated the parents’ visit were also detained on Adejobi’s orders.
Outraged by the events, Adeyanju questioned Adejobi’s conduct and its wider implications for Nigeria’s democracy. “Who does he think he is? Is this how we promote accountability in government? Is this what policing should be about?” Adeyanju asked, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms in the country.
The activist criticized the way Adejobi is allegedly running the FPRO office, likening it to a chaotic situation that undermines the professional nature of the role. “He is turning the Force PRO office into a chaotic space, as though it were a street fight in Oshodi where people resolve issues with fists,” Adeyanju stated.
In response to these allegations, Adeyanju pledged to take legal action against Adejobi, emphasizing that the fight would not only address his client’s case but also serve as a warning to others within the police force. “We are taking decisive legal and constitutional steps against him to serve as a deterrent to others in the police force who victimise and witch-hunt citizens,” he vowed.
Furthermore, Adeyanju expressed concern over the actions of the Nigerian Police Cybercrime Centre, which he believes is overstepping its mandate. “This is also to serve a serious note of warning to the cybercrime centre of the Nigerian police,” he said. According to Adeyanju, the cybercrime unit’s primary responsibility should be to combat internet fraud and cybercriminals, not to arrest those critical of the government or police authority.
The human rights lawyer cautioned against allowing individuals like Adejobi to go unchecked, warning that such figures could pose a significant threat to Nigeria’s democratic processes. “People like Muyiwa must be stopped by citizens, or else they will continue to diminish free speech and put our democracy at risk,” he stated.
In the wake of these accusations, questions about the balance between maintaining law and order and protecting citizens’ freedoms have come to the forefront. As tensions between the police and the public continue to rise, it remains to be seen whether the Nigerian government will take any significant steps to address these concerns.
